The Wake-Up Call: Penn State has a sizable to-do list for its bye week, Saquon Barkley, Brandon Smith honored, and more

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This is your Penn State Wake-Up Call for Tuesday, Oct. 11. Let’s get started.

Line change for the Lions

Bob Flounders of Pennlive.com reviews some of the hot topics hovering over Penn State during its bye week, with a home date against unbeaten Ohio State looming on Oct. 22.

One of the ones he mentions is the reshuffling of the offensive line in light of the leg injury suffered by right tackle Andrew Nelson, possibly the Nittany Lions’ best lineman, in the first half of last Saturday’s 38-14 victory over Maryland.

Coach James Franklin said after the game that the injury would likely be season-ending, and his initial solution was to move Brendan Mahon from left tackle to Nelson’s spot, while inserting former starter Paris Palmer at left tackle.

Given the fact that Mahon started seven games on the right side and Palmer was the regular on the other flank for 11 in 2015, this seems like the most likely alignment going forward. Per Franklin:

“Paris has been pretty much predominantly left tackle, so we did feel like Mahon’s got a little bit more flexibility, he’s played a little bit more football, that’s he’s going to handle that (move to the right side) better than Paris. I don’t know what we’ll do here in the off weeke. It will be based on how the tape looks.”

Franklin also mentioned the possibility of Chasz Wright playing tackle, his natural position, but Wright has recently been coming off the bench at guard. And there is a chance, the coach added, that freshman Will Fries will have his red shirt stripped off, though it’s hard to imagine Fries starting.

Barkley, Smith honored

Saquon Barkley and Brandon Smith were named the Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on Monday for their efforts against Maryland.

Barkley ran for 202 yards, which was not only a career high but also the most yards by a PSU back since Larry Johnson had 279 against Michigan State in 2002. Smith, a one-time walk-on, contributed a career-high 14 tackles and his first career interception.

According to a Penn State release, Barkley became the first Lion to be honored in this fashion since Bill Belton ran for 201 yards against Illinois in 2013. It is also the first time PSU had the conference’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week since Daryll Clark and NaVorro Bowman won the awards after the Michigan State game in 2009.

One more Barkley-related note: He revealed in an interview Monday on the Big Ten Network that his dad, Alibay Barkley, really wanted to name him after Tupac Shakur. Saquon added quickly that his mom, Tonya Johnson, “was not having that at all.”

Defending champ Lions hit the mat

Monday marked the official start of preseason wrestling practice for Penn State, the defending NCAA champion, as well as the nation’s other 76 Division I teams. And the cupboard is far from bare for the Lions, who have also won five of the last six national titles.